The requirement
- Capability, not hours: the RCGP sets no minimum hours and no minimum number of logs.
- Some nations and deaneries have contractual hours (for example Scotland) and a session log to upload. Meeting contractual hours is not the same as showing capability.
- Your ES reviews UUC evidence at each ESR, so plan from ST1.
What the UUC capabilities cover
Recognising and managing the acutely ill; prioritising; communicating by telephone, video and face to face; working across services and handing back to the usual GP; applying capacity, consent and mental health law urgently; helping patients manage safely and know where to go.
The numbers by year
| Requirement | ST1 | ST2 | ST3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urgent and unscheduled care (UUC), including out of hours | evidence as gained | evidence as gained | capability shown by final ARCP |
Full time, per training year unless stated. Less than full time: per-year totals stay the same and each 6-month review needs a pro rata share; 6-monthly ESRs and 12-monthly certificates are not pro rata. Check with your deanery and educational supervisor.
Notes on these numbers
- Urgent and unscheduled care (UUC), including out of hours, LTFT: Same capability requirement; local hours expectations may be pro rata - check deanery.
Where experience comes from
- Primary care out-of-hours services (triage, home visits, less immediate back-up): the core setting.
- In-hours duty doctor, same-day and triage work.
- Hospital ED, paediatrics and acute medicine: they contribute but are unlikely to be enough on their own.
How to evidence it
- Record every session (date, setting, hours, supervisor) in supporting documentation the same day.
- Ask for a session feedback form from your OOH supervisor.
- Write CCRs on cases where you learned something new; not every session needs one.
- Keep a summary log if your contract requires hours.
Common ARCP pitfalls
- All OOH squeezed into the last months of ST3.
- Relying on hospital shifts only.
- No session records.